France

France has an extensive network of footpaths throughout the country. More than 58 000 km of long distance footpaths and 120 000 km of local footpaths have been created. The Fédération Française de la Randonnée Pédestre (FFRandonnée) is the organization behind the long distance footpaths - les sentiers de grande randonnée (GR) which exist all over the country.

FFRandonnée, representing 1600 walking clubs, publishes more than 150 guidebooks (topoguides des sentiers de grande randonnée). These contain all kinds of information on the long distance paths: routes, distances, periods of the year suitable for walking, lodgings, maps, elevation charts. Accommodation can be found in huts and also in inns and hotels.

FFRandonnée issues a catalogue listing all the topoguides and with a planning map on which all the GR-paths are indicated. You can get it free of charge from FFRandonnée and also in bookstores. The topoguides can be ordered from FFRandonnée and bought in bookstores. Some of the guidebooks have been translated into English by a British publisher.

For your planning, there is a special map at a scale of 1:100 000, "France, sentiers de grande randonnée", published by the Institut Géographique National (IGN). It is also available from FFRandonnée. On most of the yellow Michelin maps (scale 1:200 000) more important paths are marked with GR. For the actual walk you will need maps at a scale of 1:50 000 or 1:25 000.

Information on local footpaths is available from most regional and local tourist offices.

If you want to walk in the Vosges - on the French side of the Rhine - you can order guidebooks and maps at a scale of 1:50 000 from the Club Vosgien.For the French alps (Lake Geneva to the Mediterranean, 400km) detailed information is available from Centre Information Montagnes et Sentiers (Cimes) in Grenoble.For the Pyrenees Cimes-Pyrénées can give information.If you visit Paris you can buy guidebooks and maps in some bookstores and other stores.